I took some pictures yesterday of a container of fruit in its original plastic packaging and plated in various ways. I am going to make a poll and ask which one people would choose to eat. I'll have three polls to distinguish relative importance of variables. One poll will be the original product against the fruit plated on a white plate, one original against colored plate, and one white plate against colored plate. From that, I should be able to separate format from purely superficial difference. 

I interviewed a friend who is in culinary school and got some nice information from her. Most of what she told me is just what I was trying to find. Now I have descriptions and opinions from someone currently absorbed in the world of food. She was able to give me up-to-date information on what's going on in plating and what is being taught by master chefs.